Speaking to the media yesterday after his arrival from
Russia, where he was attending the Second Summit of the Russia-Africa Economic
and Humanitarian Forum, President Mnangagwa said he was not involved in any
election-related court dispute.
“They should go and recover their school fees from where they went to school. “I am nowhere near the court. I have never taken anybody to court, so if they are making such allegations, it means they do not have much education.”
More than a dozen opposition candidates have been barred
from contesting the forthcoming polls after courts made findings that the
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission erred by accepting their nominations.
Independent presidential candidate Mr Saviour Kasukuwere
was blocked from contesting for the top job in the land after the Supreme Court
dismissed his appeal challenging a High Court ruling that nullified his
nomination.
The apex court ruled that Mr Kasukuwere’s appeal “lacked
merit”.
On Thursday, 17 opposition National Assembly candidates,
including 12 from the Citizens Coalition for Change, were stopped from
participating in the polls after the Bulawayo High Court found that they had
filed their nomination papers out of time.
Labour Economists and African Democrats leader Ms Linda
Masarira, who wanted to contest the presidential election, also had her
application to stand in the polls dismissed after she failed to pay her
nomination fees on time.
Turning to the just-ended summit, President Mnangagwa said
African countries, including Zimbabwe, were at the forefront of shaping a new
world order.
“We were all well-received and the response by Heads of
State from Africa was very encouraging.
“Out of the 54 countries, the majority of Heads of State
went to Russia for the Russia-Africa Summit, which shows that Africa respects
Russia, and Africa is now independent and cannot be bullied as to what it must
do.
“Yes, leaders from a few countries did not go, but the
majority of Heads of State went.”
African countries that were not represented at the Head of
State level, he said, sent representatives.
“There was a lot of co-operation, especially in the area of
food security across Africa. President (Vladimir) Putin also added a donation
to several countries that have insecure food situations; he made donations of
several metric tonnes.”
He added: “Then you are fully aware of the geopolitical
situation in the country (Russia) . . . there is now a mood of creating a new
world order, and it is unfolding.
“We all are contributing to a new world order, where
everybody is treated equally and where international law is observed.”
Addressing the summit on Friday, President Mnangagwa said
there was a need to dislodge the Western hegemonic rule and influence.
“For decades, sustainable socio-economic development at
regional and global levels has been hindered by the escalating threat of
transnational organised crime, conflict and terrorism that encroach upon global
peace and security,” he said.
“In Zimbabwe, we have a philosophy that ‘a country is
built, developed, ruled and prayed for by its own people’. We leave no one and
no place behind.
“Strengthening existing institutions, as well as carving
new partnerships, remain key for a just and peaceful world order, which is
unfolding.
“In this context, Zimbabwe commends the Russian Federation
for its solidarity and support, guided by our shared aspirations and
development objectives for convening this Russia-African Summit.” Sunday Mail
0 comments:
Post a Comment